42 Architects completes skatepark at Swedish UNESCO heritage site

Images have been released of a new skatepark in Sweden designed by emerging, London-based practice 42 Architects

Hyttgardsparken is situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Area at Falun which includes the Great Copper Mountain and its surroundings. The project was initiated by 42 Architects who began designing the scheme in 2008 (see New Practices AJ 18.03.2010).

Johan Berglund, director of 42 Architects, said: ‘I was in conversation with the chair of the Skateboarding Association for the area. On the site there was a really run-down facility for skateboarding, the only one in the whole area. We spoke about creating something more permanent.’

He added: ‘We started pitching to the council. Before we knew it, the skatepark had become a political hot potato, which the leftwing party promised to build if they were elected.’

42 Architects is the sole designer for the 6,000m2 site. The second phase of the project, which is expected to begin later this year, will see some more curved edges added to the skatepark to encourage different styles of skating. It will also see more green areas and benches added to the site as well as spaces for basketball, boule and concerts.

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